Foldable filing cabinet

ABSTRACT

A filing cabinet includes a housing foldable to a compact folding structure, two side members engaged onto two side walls of the housing and each having a hanger rail, and one or more hanger files each having a hanging member attached to each of two lateral edges of the hanger file for engaging with the hanger rails of the side members and for supporting and suspending the hanger file on the hanger rails of the side members of the housing. Four corner members may be engaged onto the corner areas of the housing for reinforcing the housing. The filing cabinet may be easily and quickly assembled by the users themselves for suspending hanger files in the outdoors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a filing cabinet for suspension file folders, and more particularly to a foldable filing cabinet including a structure foldable to a compact folding and storing configuration and to be assembled by the users themselves for supporting or suspending hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or hanger binders or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or hanger binders or the like comprise one or more hangers or hooks attached to each of two end portions thereof for slidably engaging onto rails or rods or the like, and for suspending and supporting the hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or hanger binders on the rails or rods.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,572,867 to Cooper discloses one of the typical hanger book assemblies for suspension file folders also comprising two hanger rails disposed parallel to each other, and a hanger hook element attached to each of the lateral edges of a file folder and projected beyond the respective edge of the file folder for slidably engaging onto the hanger rails and thus for suspending and supporting the hanger book assemblies on the hanger rails.

Normally, the hanger rails are normally provided and disposed in the drawers of various kinds of tables or book shelves, or the like that include a large volume and a heavy weight and that may not be easily carried with the users. Accordingly, when the hanger book assemblies or the hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or hanger binders are carried outdoors, there will be no hanger rails available for suspending and supporting the hanger book assemblies.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,734 to Scott et al. discloses another typical hanger bag assembly comprising a longitudinal hanger rod including notches at opposite ends thereof for engaging with a pair of parallel hanger or support rails such as those of a filing cabinet or drawer, and thus for suspending and supporting the hanger bag assemblies on the hanger or support rails of the filing cabinet or drawer.

However, similarly, the drawers are slidably engaged in various kinds of tables or book shelves, or the like that also include a large volume and a heavy weight and that may not be easily carried with the users. Accordingly, when the hanger bag assemblies or the hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or hanger binders or the like are carried outdoors, there will be no hanger rails available for suspending and supporting the hanger files or hanger bag assemblies.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional foldable filing cabinets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a foldable filing cabinet including a structure foldable to a compact folding and storing configuration and to be assembled by the users themselves for supporting or suspending hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or the like.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a foldable filing cabinet including a structure to be easily carried outdoors and to be assembled by the users themselves for supporting or suspending hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or the like in the outdoors.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a filing cabinet comprising a housing foldable to a compact folding and storing configuration, and including a front wall, two side walls, and a rear wall, two side members engaged onto the side walls of the housing respectively, and each including a hanger rail provided thereon, and at least one hanger file including at least one hanging member attached to each of two lateral edges of the hanger file for engaging with the hanger rails of the side members and for supporting and suspending the hanger file on the hanger rails of the side members of the housing.

The side members each include an L-shaped support member for defining the hanger rail. Four corner members may further be provided and each include two arms each having a channel formed therein for receiving and for engaging onto the front and the side and the rear walls of the housing and for reinforcing four corner areas of the housing respectively.

The corner members each include an L-shaped extension extended therefrom for reinforcing the corner members. The corner members are engaged onto end portions of the side members, and each include an L-shaped groove formed in the extension for receiving the hanger rails of the side members and for stably coupling and maintaining the side members and the corner members together.

The extension is extended between and formed integral with the arms of the corner member. The housing includes two longitudinal members each having a channel formed therein for engaging onto the front and the rear walls of the housing respectively.

The front wall of the housing includes two side flanges foldable relative to the front wall for engaging with and for securing to the side walls. The housing includes an upper flap provided on each of the front and the side and the rear walls of the housing and foldable downwardly relative to the front and the side and the rear walls and engageable onto the front and the side and the rear walls for reinforcing the front and the side and the rear walls of the housing respectively.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable filing cabinet in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the foldable filing cabinet;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the foldable filing cabinet taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the foldable filing cabinet as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the foldable filing cabinet taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the foldable filing cabinet as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the foldable filing cabinet;

FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 are enlarged partial perspective views of the foldable filing cabinet;

FIG. 12 is a plan schematic view illustrating a housing of the foldable filing cabinet in an open or unfolded configuration;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the assembling operation of the foldable filing cabinet; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the folding operation of the foldable filing cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-7, a foldable filing cabinet in accordance with the present invention comprises a receptacle or housing 10 including a front or rear wall 11, two side walls 12, 13, and a rear or front wall 20 to be detachably secured together with such as rivets or fasteners 80, and the walls 11, 12, 13, each preferably include an upper flap 14, 21 provided thereon and foldable downwardly relative to the walls 11, 12, 13, 20 and engageable onto the walls 11, 12, 13, 20 respectively for reinforcing the upper portions of the walls 11, 12, 13, 20 respectively.

The walls 11, 12, 13, 20 each preferably include a bottom flap 15, 22 (FIGS. 7, 12, 13) foldable inwardly relative to the walls 11, 12, 13, 20 respectively and engageable or secured with each other for forming the bottom wall 15 of the housing 10. It is preferable that the side walls 12, 13 each include an opening 16 formed therein for engaging with the hands or the fingers of the users and for allowing the housing 10 to be easily carried with the users. The side walls 12, 13 and the rear or front wall 20 each include a number of orifices 17, 23 formed therein for receiving the rivets or fasteners 80, and for allowing the side walls 12, 13 and the rear or front wall 20 to be secured together to form the housing 10.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 7 and 13, the rear or front wall 20 may include two side flanges 24 foldable relative to the rear or front wall 20 for engaging with the side walls 12, 13, and having the orifices 23 formed therein for aligning with the orifices 17 of the side walls 12, 13 and for receiving the rivets or fasteners 80, and thus for allowing the side walls 12, 13 and the rear or front wall 20 to be secured together with the rivets or fasteners 80. Alternatively, the walls 11-13, 20 may be formed integral with each other by such as molding or mold injection processes.

Further alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, the side walls 12, 13 each may include a side flange 18 foldable relative to the respective side walls 12, 13 and having the orifices 17 formed therein for aligning with the orifices 23 of the rear or front wall 20 and for receiving the rivets or fasteners 80, and thus for allowing the side walls 12, 13 and the rear or front wall 20 to be secured together with the rivets or fasteners 80. The rear or front wall 20 and the side walls 12, 13 may also be secured together with such as detachably latches or quick release coupling devices, adhesive materials, or by welding processes.

In operation, the front or rear wall 11 and the side walls 12, 13, and/or the rear or front wall 20 may be opened or unfolded to a planar configuration as shown in FIGS. 12, 14, for allowing the walls 11, 12, 13, 20 to be folded or unfolded to a compact folding and storing configuration (FIG. 14) and to be assembled by the users themselves such that the housing 10 may be easily carried with the users. As shown in FIG. 13, the walls 11, 12, 13, 20 may also be secured together to form the housing 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5 with the rivets or fasteners 80 by the users themselves. The walls 11, 12, 13, 20 of the housing 10 may be made with such as paper or plastic or synthetic materials.

The housing 10 further includes two longitudinal members 30 (FIGS. 1-4, 7-8) each having a channel 31 formed therein (FIGS. 4, 8) for receiving or for engaging onto the upper portions of the front or rear wall 11 and the rear or front wall 20 respectively. It is preferable that the longitudinal members 30 are made of metal or aluminum or stronger synthetic materials for reinforcing the housing 10. The housing 10 further includes two side members 32, 33 (FIGS. 1-2, 5-7 and 9) each also having a channel 34 formed therein (FIGS. 6, 9) for receiving or for engaging onto the upper portions of the side walls 12, 13 respectively. It is also preferable that the side members 32, 33 are made of metal or aluminum or stronger synthetic materials for reinforcing the housing 10.

The longitudinal members 30 or the side members 32, 33 each further include a hanger rail 35 formed or provided thereon or extended therefrom and defined by an outwardly extended and L-shaped support member 36, best shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, for engaging with and for supporting or suspending one or more hanger books or hanger bags or hanger binders or hanger files 40 or the like. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6-7 and 11, the hanger files 40 each may include one or more hanging members 41 attached to each of the lateral edges of the hanger files 40 and projected beyond the respective edge of the hanger file 40 and each having a hook end or portion 42 for slidably engaging onto the hanger rails 35 and thus for suspending and supporting the hanger files 40 on the hanger rails 35.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-7, the side members 32, 33 may be easily and quickly engaged onto the upper portions of the side walls 12, 13 respectively for suspending and supporting the hanger files 40 on the hanger rails 35 and for suitably receiving the hanger files 40 in the housing 10. The housing 10 and the side members 32, 33 may be easily carried with the users and may be easily and quickly assembled together and constructed for suspending and supporting the hanger files 40 on the hanger rails 35, particularly when the hanger files 40 are carried outdoors.

As shown in FIGS. 1-7 and 10, one or more, such as four corner members 50 may further be provided and each preferably include an angled or V or L-shaped structure formed by two arms 51, 52 each of which includes a channel 53 formed therein (FIGS. 4, 6, 10) for receiving or for engaging onto the upper portions of the walls 11-13, and 20 respectively and/or for engaging onto the end portions of the longitudinal members 30 and the side members 32, 33, and for solidly securing or forming the housing 10, and for further reinforcing the upper portions and/or the corner areas of the walls 11, 12, 13, 20 of the housing 10 respectively.

The corner members 50 each may further include an L-shaped extension 54 extended therefrom, such as extended from the inner portion of the arms 51, 52 or extended between the arms 51, 52 and preferably formed integral with the arms 51, 52 for further reinforcing the corner members 50 and thus the housing 10, and the corner members 50 each may further include an L-shaped groove 55 formed in the extension 54 (FIG. 10) for receiving the hanger rail 35 or the support member 36 (FIGS. 1-2, 5-6) and thus for further stably positioning and coupling and maintaining the longitudinal members 30 and the side members 32, 33 together with the corner members 50.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 13, the housing 10 may be easily and quickly unfolded or constructed into the typical parallelepiped structure for suitably receiving the hanger files 40 in the housing 10, and the side members 32, 33 may then be engaged onto the upper portions of the side walls 12, 13 respectively for suspending and supporting the hanger files 40 on the hanger rails 35, and the longitudinal members 30 and/or the corner members 50 may then be engaged onto the upper portions of the side walls 12, 13 or the end portions of the longitudinal members 30 and the side members 32, 33 respectively for reinforcing the housing 10 and for further stably retaining the hanger files 40 in the housing 10.

It is to be noted that the walls 11-13, 20 of the housing 10 may be folded into a compact folding and storing configuration, and the longitudinal members 30 and the side members 32, 33 and the corner members 50 and the hanger files 40 may thus be formed into a compact folding and storing configuration that is excellent for both storing and transportation purposes and that may be easily carried with the users. In addition, when it is required to be used, the housing 10 and the longitudinal members 30 and the side members 32, 33 and the corner members 50 and the hanger files 40 may be easily and quickly assembled and constructed together for suspending and supporting the hanger files 40 on the hanger rails 35, particularly when the housing 10 and the hanger files 40 are carried outdoors.

Accordingly, the foldable filing cabinet in accordance with the present invention includes a structure foldable to a compact folding and storing configuration and to be assembled by the users themselves for supporting or suspending hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or the like, and to be easily carried outdoors and to be easily and quickly assembled by the users themselves for supporting or suspending hanger books or hanger bags or hanger files or the like in the outdoors.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A filing cabinet comprising: a housing foldable to a compact folding and storing configuration, and including a front wall, two side walls, and a rear wall, two side members engaged onto said side walls of said housing respectively, and each including a hanger rail provided thereon, and at least one hanger file including at least one hanging member attached to each of two lateral edges of said at least one hanger file for engaging with said hanger rails of said side members and for supporting and suspending said at least one hanger file on said hanger rails of said side members of said housing.
 2. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side members each include an L-shaped support member for defining said hanger rail.
 3. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 1 further comprising four corner members each including two arms each having a channel formed therein for receiving and for engaging onto said front and said side and said rear walls of said housing and for reinforcing four corner areas of said housing respectively.
 4. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 3, wherein said corner members each include an L-shaped extension extended therefrom for reinforcing said corner members.
 5. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 4, wherein said corner members are engaged onto end portions of said side members, and each include an L-shaped groove formed in said extension for receiving said hanger rails of said side members and for stably coupling and maintaining said side members and said corner members together.
 6. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 5, wherein said extension is extended between and formed integral with said arms of said corner member.
 7. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing includes two longitudinal members each having a channel formed therein for engaging onto said front and said rear walls of said housing respectively.
 8. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front wall of said housing includes two side flanges foldable relative to said front wall for engaging with and for securing to said side walls.
 9. The filing cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes an upper flap provided on each of said front and said side and said rear walls of said housing and foldable downwardly relative to said front and said side and said rear walls and engageable onto said front and said side and said rear walls for reinforcing said front and said side and said rear walls of said housing respectively. 